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John Bartholomew

Standard Chess #260: aaaaaaa101 vs. IM Bartholomew (Stonewall Attack)

In the Stonewall Attack (or Reversed Stonewall) White hastens to establish a dark-square pawn phalanx on f4, e3, d4, and c3. Strategically, this makes the light-square bishop "good," because it isn't impeded by White's own pawns. I therefore strive to swap this bishop with 4...Nh6 and 5...Bf5, after which I obtain a slight plus due to my better pieces and more flexible … [Read more...] about Standard Chess #260: aaaaaaa101 vs. IM Bartholomew (Stonewall Attack)

Standard Chess #259: CuzImBetter vs. IM Bartholomew (Slav Defense)

The Slav Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4) is an excellent choice for those who also play the Scandinavian or Caro-Kann due to the structural similarities (Black pawns on e6/c6). Here my opponent moves his kingside knight five times in the opening and pays the price with square control and an IQP (isolated queen's pawn). Black enjoys a harmonious middlegame … [Read more...] about Standard Chess #259: CuzImBetter vs. IM Bartholomew (Slav Defense)

Standard Chess #258: Duailibe_L vs. IM Bartholomew (Modern Defense)

A wild 2500 appears! Venturing quickly in to uncharted opening territory, I get the chance to create trouble on the queenside (10...a6, 11...b5). White's lag in development soon garners me a pawn, but the technical difficulties in converting this material are significant both on the board and on the clock. The endgame alone makes this one worth watching. Review this game on … [Read more...] about Standard Chess #258: Duailibe_L vs. IM Bartholomew (Modern Defense)

Standard Chess #257: IM Bartholomew vs. Zenchess (Nimzo-Indian Defense)

The flexible hybrid Nimzo-Indian move order 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3 (or 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3) is an occasional weapon of mine, and here my opponent plays in the style of a Blumenfeld Gambit with 7...b5. I gain a pawn but offer it back just a few moves later (11.e4!?) in a bid for the all-important initiative. Review this game on lichess.org: … [Read more...] about Standard Chess #257: IM Bartholomew vs. Zenchess (Nimzo-Indian Defense)